Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Eight

They had finally arrived through the gate, safe in the haven that Atlantis provided. McKay and Ford gently guided Teyla over to the stairs that ascended to the control room and eased her into a seating position. Weir narrowed her eyes as the gate shut down. Why had only three of them returned? Where the hell was Sheppard? She exchanged a look with Grodin then left the control room, heading down the stairs. "Rodney."

"Elizabeth," he answered straightening up, still having trouble with his balance.

"Where's Major Sheppard?" she asked quietly, then glanced to Teyla and Ford. Putting her hands on her hips, Weir looked at McKay.

"It's a long story, one I'd love to explain to you but right now…"

"Rodney, what happened with the Bre'tar?" Weir asked, raising her voice to be heard. She wanted answers, not to be patronised. "You come back without a member of your team and you all look like you've consumed half your body weight in alcohol."

"How dare you tarnish my good reputation like that," McKay muttered in disbelief, not believing that she could make that kind of assumption. "If you must know we were poisoned."

"By the Bre'tar?" she asked with some confusion.

"Not exactly," McKay said after some hesitation.

"Not exactly?" Weir repeated. Ford stood up from his crouching position next to Teyla, in the hopes of being able to help McKay out with this.

"Kolya got the Bre'tar to poison us, ma'am." Ford stood back, hands absently tapping the side of his P90 while he looked to McKay then back to Weir. They both waited until the implications of what he had said finally sunk in.

"Wait," she said slowly holding up a hand. This was a lot of information to digest and she wasn't sure they were even explaining it well. "What has Kolya got to do with this?"

Ford glanced to McKay; this was normally the time when he started interrupting the conversation. "It seems that we were set up," Ford said, choosing to continue when it was clear that McKay wasn't interested in telling her the story. "He made the Bre'tar believe that the Genii would protect them but all he wanted to do was get to Major Sheppard."

"He has John," she said gently, closing her eyes at the revelation.

"I'm afraid so," Ford said lowering his eyes for a moment, then back up to her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "We weren't in a position to help ma'am. We were drugged." Weir looked from Ford to Teyla who was sitting on the stairs, head in her hands.

"Is that why she is…?"

"Yes," Ford answered quickly. "It's hit her harder than myself and McKay."

Weir gave a small nod, concerned but forced herself to look back to McKay and Ford. "So the question remains? Why now and why John?" she asked.

"Vengeance," McKay replied folding his arms like it was the most obvious answer. "Pure vengeance Elizabeth, it seems that Kolya wants to get even with Major Sheppard and obviously went to great lengths to carry it out."

"With us incapacitated, he had no choice but to co-operate," Ford added. "Kolya took him off world."

"From what we can gather," McKay added.

"And if he did then," Weir said looking back to McKay with a thoughtful expression.

"We have absolutely no chance of locating them," McKay answered, it wasn't what they wanted to hear but this was no time for lies.

"We could always ask the Bre'tar but I doubt they'll tell us anything," Ford replied quietly, his gaze shifting back to Teyla uncomfortably. It couldn't have been easy to be double-crossed by people you thought were trusted friends. "It seems that Kolya was just using them to get to the major."

Weir contemplated the situation in silence; the situation concerned her greatly. If Kolya had his hands on Sheppard there was no telling what he would do, both she and Rodney had witnessed what he was capable of. "Rodney," she said quietly, finding her voice.

Teyla stood up slowly and grabbed her stomach, trying to move forward but ended up collapsing. Ford knelt down as Weir and McKay crouched. "Teyla," he said with a gentle tone. "Teyla!" The young lieutenant looked to the expedition leader. Weir immediately tapped her headset without taking her eyes off him. "Medical team to the gate room. Now."

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Pathetically, Sheppard still had his useless weapon pointed at Kolya. He had been extremely stupid, he hadn't even thought to check the chamber to see if there were rounds. All he could think about was getting to the gate and back to Atlantis. Kolya held up the device for him to see, almost as if he were taunting him with it and enjoying every single second.

Unfortunately, Sheppard knew he was right. If he didn't have the radio or his IDC code then there would be no way of getting into Atlantis, he would only be met by the gate's iris and then he would be squished like a bug. He lowered the weapon then threw it on the floor, looking back up to Koyla who finally pocketed the small device.

The man was making sure that Sheppard knew who had all the power, who was in ultimate control. That same smug grin appeared on Kolya's face. He was also making sure that John knew that there was nothing he could do about it.

"I knew I should have tied you up," Kolya answered taking out his own weapon for extra insurance.

"Why didn't you?" Sheppard asked not moving an inch. "Didn't think I'd have the guts to try and take on your men?"

"No," he replied smugly with that same half smile. "I know you won't try another little stunt like that. After all, if you do Teyla Emmagan dies." Sheppard glared at him was Kolya baiting him?

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?"

"The Drila, major. It contained a poisonous metal, harmless in small doses but she did drink an excessive amount didn't she." He chuckled at Sheppard's expression. "I have the antidote and if you co-operate I'll let you have it and the means to get back to your home."

"And if I don't?" he dared ask.

"If she doesn't receive the antidote within three days, she will die. Your choice." Kolya glanced to the doors then to Sheppard, hoping he had made his point. "Let's go back inside." He gestured towards the doors with the weapon. "Shall we?" Sheppard knew it wasn't an invitation and if he didn't get moving the son of a bitch would probably just shoot him. After much hesitation, he finally started walking past Kolya and through the doors. For at least three seconds, Sheppard had contemplated not moving at all and to let his own defiance get the better of him.

Kolya led him straight through where the guards still lay and through the smaller wooden door at the other end of the room, he pushed it open. As Sheppard looked around the new environment and his eyes widened, he was beginning to wish he had stuck to that initial thought.

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